The Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada funded more than 7,000 projects over about three months during the Fund’s first round. Those projects spanned the country and met the needs of many different communities, including Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2 communities.

The Government of Canada kept back a portion of the Emergency Community Support Fund to give it the flexibility to adjust to evolving needs and cover any gaps from the first round.

In the first round of grant funding, the three intermediaries were able to reach all vulnerable groups through funding distributed to all provinces and territories. Building on the success of the first round, the three intermediaries will distribute the remaining funds of $73.9 million through a second round of open and transparent processes, while also using a targeted approach in their outreach efforts to ensure equitable distribution across vulnerable populations.

The Emergency Community Support Fund is only providing short term grants to community serving agencies and must be spent by March 31, 2020. The funds raised by United Way of Northern BC are intended to provide longer term sustainable funding to our network of community agencies.

United Way of Northern BC has not established a minimum or maximum grant amount. We will be issuing grants based on the proposed services, associated amounts requested and overall demand.

The ECSF is a $350 million investment made by the Government of Canada, and a significant portion is being delivered through United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and Canadian Red Cross across the country. United Way of Northern BC will be allocating just over $288,000 in our region.

Yes, ECSF resources can enhance and expand your current COVID-19 funded community service so long as expenses are not counted twice.

You do not need to be a current funded agency to apply. We are committed to ensuring that funds are broadly available to community service organizations and agencies working to provide services and support vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19. In Round 1, 50% of funding was disbursed to new UWC partners.

Organizations providing front-line services to vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19 are eligible to apply, including registered charities, and other qualified donees. Check the Canada Revenue Agency list of qualified donees by clicking here.

Non-profits in Canada are playing an important role in helping to respond to local needs. Non-profit community organizations delivering front-line services may be supported through a qualified donee that is acting as a trustee. In certain circumstances, United Way of Northern BC may support delivery of services through a Non-profit under an agent agreement. If you are interested in partnering to respond to local needs, you are welcome to apply/please contact us directly.

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The Canadian Red Cross has launched a granting program for Non-profits. To find out more about their program please visit redcross.ca/communityorganizations.

Please connect with your local UWC to determine if they are accepting applications to expand and/or extend the delivery of activities or services that are already underway (up to March 31, 2021).

If my agency is receiving the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, are we still eligible to apply for funding?

Community Services Organizations may apply for more than one service. Please submit separate applications for each proposed service.

Applications will be reviewed between November 9 and November 23. All funding allocations will be made public on or before November 27, 2020.

The purpose of the ECSF is to resource front-line services supporting vulnerable populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible expenses include staffing, equipment, supplies, and related operating costs that allow organizations to provide and deliver services that respond to the current crisis.

Yes. Applicants may not, however, apply to more than one funder for the same program activities and related costs. The three intermediaries will be coordinating locally to ensure that funds are being distributed to have the best possible local reach to serve vulnerable populations.

The reporting requirements for this funding will focus primarily on number of services and clients served, and organizations will be expected to periodically provide updates to these numbers throughout the period of the grant. Additional details will be shared with successful applicants.

United Way of Northern BC is committed to ensuring an open and fair application and review process. We will be working to promote this funding opportunity throughout our community and to support organizations seeking to apply.

United Way of Northern BC will be considering several equity dimensions as they make decisions on how these resources will be allocated locally. These can include populations served, geographic balance, rural and remote access or other systemic challenges.

No. For national networks or federations, each local member or chapter must submit its own application directly to their local United Way or Centraide.in the area where the activities take place.

Yes. For ECSF Round 2, national or provincial charities that deliver services to vulnerable people can apply to Community Foundations of Canada. National or provincial non-profits that deliver services to vulnerable people can apply to the Canadian Red Cross.

Organizations can find further information by referring to the Applicant Guide.